MONROE - Cheese Days had an immediate impact on Monroe's economy, and it can also have a positive long-term impact on the city and the county.
Up to 90,000 people attended the 2010 Cheese Days festival, said Fred Kelley, Monroe police chief. Kelley estimated the size of the crowds at 20,000 to 30,000 on Friday; 30,000 to 40,000 on Saturday; and about 20,000 on Sunday. He said the numbers were similar to past festivals.
Noreen Rueckert, Cheese Days coordinator, said the biennial festival attracted people from the West Coast, East Coast and places in between.
"Whenever I talk to people and tell them I'm from Monroe, they always mention Cheese Days," she said. "We create a positive impression about Monroe and the county because of Cheese Days."
With all of the people who visit Monroe sometime during the weekend, there is a good chance some will come back, even if it isn't for Cheese Days, Rueckert said.
"They might come back to see some other attractions they didn't get time to see when they came for Cheese Days," she said. "That's good for tourism."
The bars and restaurants around the Square probably see the most immediate financial impact of the festival, said Pam Christopher, director of Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Christopher said Cheese Days sponsors and organizers look forward to seeing the crowds on Monroe's Square.
"A lot of people come here for Cheese Days," she said. "The businesses work together for the whole year to put on the festival."
Christopher said the number of people who come for Cheese Days has to have a positive impact on the community.
"It's exciting to see all of the people here," she said.
Calla Angle, who works at Baumgartner's Cheese Store and Tavern, worked Cheese Days weekend, and once again the bar was busy.
"It was beyond packed," she said. "We took all of the tables and chairs out to make room for people."
People came for the cheese and the beer, she said. "It was beyond successful," she said.
Richard Thoman, who owns both the Super 8 and AmericInn Lodge and Suites in Monroe, said guests started booking rooms a year in advance for Cheese Days. All 108 rooms in the hotels were booked. Some people who book ahead canceled for one reason or another, but the rooms were rented by the weekend of Cheese Days.
August and September are typically good months for the hotels because of the many festival and events that take place, but Thoman said Cheese Days helps guarantee the hotels will be full.
Other businesses owners said they also saw benefits of Cheese Days.
Carl Siegenthaler, who works at Wing 'n Pond, said the festival brought people into the store to shop. Some people bought things; others said they planned to return.
"It's a good way to get people from out of town into the store," he said. "We figure that if there are going to be a lot of people here, we should stay open."
Wing 'n Pond stayed open late on Saturday to attract potential customers.
"The best advertising you can have is to be open during Cheese Days," Siegenthaler said.
Nancy Maliszewski, who owns Nancy's Ladies Apparel and the Green Door, also kept her stores open later than usual. She said Cheese Days was a good time to get new people into the store.
"It made sense to be open," she said. "We had people come in to shop."
Up to 90,000 people attended the 2010 Cheese Days festival, said Fred Kelley, Monroe police chief. Kelley estimated the size of the crowds at 20,000 to 30,000 on Friday; 30,000 to 40,000 on Saturday; and about 20,000 on Sunday. He said the numbers were similar to past festivals.
Noreen Rueckert, Cheese Days coordinator, said the biennial festival attracted people from the West Coast, East Coast and places in between.
"Whenever I talk to people and tell them I'm from Monroe, they always mention Cheese Days," she said. "We create a positive impression about Monroe and the county because of Cheese Days."
With all of the people who visit Monroe sometime during the weekend, there is a good chance some will come back, even if it isn't for Cheese Days, Rueckert said.
"They might come back to see some other attractions they didn't get time to see when they came for Cheese Days," she said. "That's good for tourism."
The bars and restaurants around the Square probably see the most immediate financial impact of the festival, said Pam Christopher, director of Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Christopher said Cheese Days sponsors and organizers look forward to seeing the crowds on Monroe's Square.
"A lot of people come here for Cheese Days," she said. "The businesses work together for the whole year to put on the festival."
Christopher said the number of people who come for Cheese Days has to have a positive impact on the community.
"It's exciting to see all of the people here," she said.
Calla Angle, who works at Baumgartner's Cheese Store and Tavern, worked Cheese Days weekend, and once again the bar was busy.
"It was beyond packed," she said. "We took all of the tables and chairs out to make room for people."
People came for the cheese and the beer, she said. "It was beyond successful," she said.
Richard Thoman, who owns both the Super 8 and AmericInn Lodge and Suites in Monroe, said guests started booking rooms a year in advance for Cheese Days. All 108 rooms in the hotels were booked. Some people who book ahead canceled for one reason or another, but the rooms were rented by the weekend of Cheese Days.
August and September are typically good months for the hotels because of the many festival and events that take place, but Thoman said Cheese Days helps guarantee the hotels will be full.
Other businesses owners said they also saw benefits of Cheese Days.
Carl Siegenthaler, who works at Wing 'n Pond, said the festival brought people into the store to shop. Some people bought things; others said they planned to return.
"It's a good way to get people from out of town into the store," he said. "We figure that if there are going to be a lot of people here, we should stay open."
Wing 'n Pond stayed open late on Saturday to attract potential customers.
"The best advertising you can have is to be open during Cheese Days," Siegenthaler said.
Nancy Maliszewski, who owns Nancy's Ladies Apparel and the Green Door, also kept her stores open later than usual. She said Cheese Days was a good time to get new people into the store.
"It made sense to be open," she said. "We had people come in to shop."